Latch assembly for releasably connecting a cover to a receptacle



Dec. 30, 1958 P. RouMELlo-rls LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING A COVER TO A RECEPTACLE Filed Jan. 24, 1957 FGJ.

R3 z ma Ni EZ We 1m w H. .S Z 4F .a z ww n a P ATTORNEY LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR RELEASABLY CON- NECTING A COVER TO A RECEPTACLE Panagiotis Roumelioti-s, Bel Air, Md. Application January 24, 1957, serial No. 636,150

z claims. (ci. 22o- 55) taken in conjunction with theaccompanying claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a container, closed by a cover provided with my improved latch assembly;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of one side of the cover and the latch assembly, and

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the upper end portion of the cover showing one of the recesses formed therein.

Referring to the drawings, indicates a receptacle,

of any suitable size and shape, such as a cylindrical paper container or cup having a tapered body 11, a closed bottom 12, and opened mouth or top 13. The inner wall of the receptacle 10 adjacent the mouth 13 may be provided with an annular bead 14 and the top may terminate in out-turned rim bead 15 (Fig. 2).

A cylindrical shaped cover or closure 16 of substantially the same diameter as the internal diameter of the mouth 13 is arranged to close the same. The container 10 and cover 16 are made of any suitable durable material, such as cardboard or the like, capable of withstanding the use to which articles of think kind are normally subjected. The cover 16 has a depending annular bead 17 arranged frictionally to engage the annular bead or lip 14. The underside of the cover 16 may also be provided with an annular member or ring 18 within and concentric with the bead 14. The bead 17 and the member 18 maybe secured to the cover 16 in any suitable manner, such as by adhesive.

The cover has an annular upwardly extending peripheral rim or flange 19 (Fig. 3) provided with diametrically disposed slots 20 arranged to register with complementary formed recesses or openings 21 in the inner wall of the container 10 adjacent the top or mouth 13 thereof. The outer surface of the cover 16 has extending upwardly and transversely thereof, a pair of spaced flanges or members 22 adhesively secured thereto and which register with the side walls of the slots 2t) in the rim 19, and coact with the upper surface of the cover 16 to form a diametrically disposed channel or guide 23 (Fig. 3). Extending upwardly and medially from the channel 23 is a substantially T-shaped member 24 in cross section and having a vertical web 25 secured as at 26 to the top of the cover 16 in any suitable manner such as by adhesion. Latch members or bars 27 are slidably mounted in the channel 23 on opice positeA sides of the member 24 and are of such a length that their outer ends 28 may each be moved to project through a slot 20 of the rim 19 or be contracted and moved inwardly out of engagement with the slot 20.

The inner ends of each of the latch members 27 are formed with an upwardly extending projection or lug 29, which may be overlapped by the horizontal arm 30 of the T-shaped member 24 and enclosed at the sides by downwardly turned extensions 30 thereof. Thus, it will'be seen'that the web 25 forms with the longitudinal arm or portion 30 and the depending sides 30', la fixed housing having confronting spaced sides and open ends that slideably receive the lugs 29. The depending ex tensions 30' provide spaced means-for retaining the latch bars 27 against transverse movement relative to the closure 16. The inner surface of each of the arms 29 may' be recessed as at 31. Between the recesses 31 and the web 2S on opposite sides of the latter, are contined coil expansion springs32 which normally urge each of the latch bars outwardly so that' their ends 28 project beyond the margin or peripheryof the cover 16 into the slots 2t) when the cover is applied to the container 10 andthe channel 23 positionedin registry with the recesses 21. The top or exposed portion of the channel 23 on opposite sides of the member 24 may be bridged byzclosingjstrips or1members'33which extend outwardly and radially from the arms 249 to the rim 19 (Fig. 3). The inner edges of the strips 33 constitute stops or abutments limiting the outward sliding movement of the latch bars 27, by engagement with the projections 29. A flexible bail or handle 34 may be connected at its ends in any suitable manner to the closures 33, such as by the straps 35.

' It will be seen that, in operation, in order to releasably connect the cover 16 in firm locking engagement with the container 10, the cover is moved to lit within the top or mouth of the container and the arms 29 are manually pressed towards each other so as to retract or withdraw the ends 28 of the latch bars from projecting outwardly beyond the rim 19. The slots 20 are then moved into registration with the keeper recesses 21. The inward pressure applied to the arm 29 is then released and the expansion of the coil springs causes outward movement to be imparted to each of the latch bars 27, thus moving the outer ends 28 of the bars through the slots 20 into the keeper recesses 21, so as to maintain the cover in firm closed position relative to the container 1t). Conversely, when it is desired to remove the cover from the container, the arms 29 are manually engaged and, upon Acover is readily removed from the container.

inward pressure being applied, they and their associated keeper bars are moved inwardly, so as to withdraw the ends 28 of the bars from engagement with keeper recesses. Upon the application of upward pressure, the When the cover 16 is in locking engagement with the container 10, the bail 34 may be utilized for conveniently carrying the container. The flexible bail 34 may, at the same time, be manually engaged to facilitate the removal o-f the cover. The annular concentric members 17 and 18, on the underside of the cover, provide means for using the cover as a coaster, when the cover is removed from the container.

It will be understood that the elements, covered by the claims, typify any substantial equivalent means capable of being used for the same purpose.

I claim:

1. In combination with a container having an open top and provided with diametrically disposed keeper recesses on its inner wall adjacent the top, the inner wall of said container having an annular supporting bead below said keeper, a cover shaped to tit within the top and engage said bead, said cover having an upwardly pro- 3 t jectingf peripheral rim provided with opposed slots registering with the keeper recesses, saidtcover having spaced anges extending transversely thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom and registering with said slots so as to form with the cover a` diametrically disposed channel, a fixed member extending upwardly from the coverland medially of said channel, said spaced flanges being bridged by horizontal strips disposed on opposite sides of said fixed member and having their inner ends spaced: therefrom to form openings, said xed member having a horizc-ntal top portion extending laterally in opposite directions therefrom and overlappingl said channel, said horizontal top portion having spaced depending sides and open ends so as to form a housing above the cover, latch members slidably mounted insaid channel on opposite sides of said xed member, each of said latch members having an outer end movable into locking engagement with one of said diametrically` disposed recesses, the inner ends of the latch members having upwardly extending lugs extending through said openings and projecting into said housing at opposite ends thereof, the inner ends of said strips constituting stops for limiting the outward movement of said lugs, the depending sides of said housing providing means for limiting transverse movement of said lugs, and spring means conned between said xed member and said lugs for normally urging the latch members outwardly into locking engagement with said keeper recesses.

2. A cover for an open-ended container, said cover having an upwardly projecting peripheral rim-provided with fi, opposed slots, said covering having spaced flanges extending transversely thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom and registering with said slots so as to form with the cover a diametrically disposed channel, a xed member extending upwardly from the cover and medially of said channel, said spaced flanges being bridged by strips disposed on opposite sides of said xed member and having their inner ends spaced therefrom to form openings therebetween, said fixed member having a horizontal top portion extending laterally in opposite directions therefrom and overlapping said channel, said horizontal portion having spaced depending sides and open ends so as to form a housing above the cover, latch members slideably mounted in said channel on opposite sides of said fixed member, said latch members having inner ends provided with upwardly extending lugs projecting through said Openings and into said housing, the inner ends of said strips providing means for limiting the outward movement of said lugs, the depending sides of said housing providing means for limiting transverse movement of said lugs, and spring means confined between said fixed member and said lugs for normally urging the latch member outwardly through said slots.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 907,085 McNutt Dec. 15, 1908 1,892,743 Wenger Jan. 3, 1933 2,535,275 Dixon Dec. 26, 1950 

